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This dramatic footage shows the moment a woman was left paralysed by a distracted driver on the A19.

The video has been released by police to highlight the dangers of drivers becoming distracted behind the wheel.

Shocking footage shows how 60-year-old Marilyn McKnight was travelling with her son Kevin and daughter-in-law Rachael when their vehicle was hit and sent flying by a VW Polo being driven by 44-year-old Craig Harding on March 15 last year.

Harding, from Houghton-le-Spring , had been distracted by another collision which happened on the opposite side of the road in which an elderly driver had driven the wrong way down the carriageway.

Harding smashed into Marilyn’s car which was almost at a standstill, throwing the Ka onto its roof, trapping both Marilyn and Kevin.

The 60-year-old was left in a wheelchair with limited movement in her arms, she also lost the sight in one eye as a result of the horror smash.

Inspector Harry Simpson, senior investigating officer from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “This footage shows what could happen should you not be giving your full attention to the road ahead.

“Marilyn’s life has been altered beyond recognition and her son and daughter-in-law are still suffering from the effects of that day.

“It’s worrying to think that a family day out could end up in such carnage.”

Harding was jailed for 10 months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for two years and five months and will need to pass an extended test before he can get behind the wheel again.

Insp Simpson added: “Whether it be mobile phones or any other form of distraction, police would urge drivers to give the road ahead of them their full attention and concentrate on what’s happening ahead.

“It only takes a split second for something like this to happen. I think the footage that we have released following this incident speaks for itself.”